Which place is cheaper, Johor Bahru or Koh Samui?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Koh Samui or Johor Bahru?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Koh Samui or Johor Bahru? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Koh Samui or Johor Bahru?
Koh Samui
The largest island on the east coast of southern Thailand, Ko Samui (or Koh Samui) sees a good number of visitors every year who come for its lush rainforest, beautiful shores, and undersea wildlife. The size of the island is still small enough to allow visitors to circumnavigate it with a taxi or motorbike in a day, while hikers and outdoor enthusiasts can find plenty of inland activities in the hills and jungle.
Johor Bahru
Johor Bahru is the capital of the state of Johor in Southern Malaysia. Though it is largely industrial and does not typically cater to tourists, especially compared to the grandeur of neighboring Singapore, the city does have some opportunities for shopping, dining, and entertainment.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours Under $1000 in Thailand, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Malaysia, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Malaysia.
-
Koh Samui Prices
Thailand PricesJohor Bahru Prices
Malaysia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKoh Samui $75Johor Bahru $66
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Samui is $75, while the average daily cost in Johor Bahru is $66. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Koh Samui and Johor Bahru in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Samui $25Johor Bahru $41
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Samui $50Johor Bahru $82
Compare Hotels in Koh Samui and Johor Bahru
Looking for a hotel in Koh Samui or Johor Bahru? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Koh Samui Hotel Prices and Johor Bahru Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Koh Samui $18Johor Bahru $13
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Koh Samui
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Koh Samui:
-
Scooter Rental$2.25
-
Gas for Scooter$1.20
-
Airport Taxi$13
-
Taxi- Na Thon Pier to Lamai Beach$13
-
Minibus- Airport to Chaweng$3.60
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Koh Samui
Also for Koh Samui, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer : Koh Samui Airport Arrival to Koh Samui Hotel (SHA Plus): $15
- Private Koh Samui Airport Transfer with Meet & Greet: $17
- Ko Samui Airport to Ko Samui - Arrival Private Transfer: $17
- Koh Samui Shared Airport Transfer – Arrival or Departure: $18
- Private Transfer from Ko Samui Port to Ko Samui Island Hotels: $19
- Private Transfer from Ko Samui Port to Ko Samui Airport (USM): $19
- Private Transfer from Ko Samui Port to Ko Samui Airport (USM): $19
- Private Transfer from Ko Samui Cruise Port to Ko Samui Hotels: $19
- Private Transfer from Ko Samui hotels to Ko Samui Cruise Port: $19
- Private Transfer from Ko Samui Airport (USM) to Ko Samui Port: $19
- Private Taxi Transfer from Samui Airport to Koh Samui Main Areas: $20
- Ferry Transfers between Ko Pha-ngan and Koh Tao: $21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Johor Bahru
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Johor Bahru:
- Private Transfer from Legoland (Malaysia) to Singapore Changi Airport (SIN): $296
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Kuantan Transfer [Car]: $281
- Johor Bahru to Cameron Highland Hotels (Door to Door) Private Transfer: $235
- Singapore Universal Studio & S.E.A Aquarium-COMBO One-Day Pass(Shared transfer): $208
- LEGOLAND Malaysia Admission Ticket with Return Transfer from Kuala Lumpur: $188
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Malacca Transfer [Car]: $159
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Penang Island Transfer [Van]: $156
- Private Transfer : Johor Bharu (JB) to Kuala Lumpur (KL): $136
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Kuala Besut Transfer [Van]: $135
- Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur City 1-way Transfer: $125
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Cameron Highlands Transfer [Van]: $121
- Universal Studios Singapore Tickets with Round-trip Transfers: $115
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Samui or Johor Bahru?
Prices for flights to both Johor Bahru and Koh Samui change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
-
Food Meals for one dayKoh Samui $37Johor Bahru $16
Typical Food Prices in Koh Samui
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Koh Samui:
-
Casual Lunch (for Two)$6.46
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Koh Samui
For Koh Samui, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Koh Samui Local Market Hin Ta Hin Yai and Beach Dinner: $36
- Half Day Pig Island Snorkeling Trip with Sunset Dinner from Samui: $58
- Samui Suppers Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $59
- Coconut Corners Samui Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $59
- Thai Cooking Class from Koh Samui with Local Market: $75
- Cooking Class by Samui Native Instructor Geng and O Family: $76
- Cooking Class in Koh Samui with Micro Organic Garden: $76
- Thai Cooking Class in Koh Samui with Market Tour: $76
- Thai Cooking Masterclass by the Sea on Koh Samui: $78
- Red Baron : A Sunset Dinner Cruise from Koh Samui with Return Transfer: $109
- Romantic Evening on Koh Samui’s Sunset Dinner Cruise: $109
- Koh Samui Red Baron Sunset Dinner Cruise with Return Transfer (SHA Plus): $117
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Koh Samui $12Johor Bahru $8.07
Tours and Activities in Koh Samui
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Koh Samui.
- Coconut Soap Making Demo and Experience Koh Samui Class@13:30 pm.: $2.28
- Kanchanaburi Mallika City Thai Cultural Tour Experience: $6.84
- Sky Bicycle Jungle Adventure Tour from Koh Samui: $17
- Paris Follies Cabaret Evening Entertainment Ticket from Koh Samui: $17
- Koh Samui Paris Follies Cabaret Spectacular Evening Show Ticket: $18
- Create Your Own Crystal Aroma Oil Ritual Experience: $20
- Koh Samui Chaweng Beach Nightlife Walking Tour: $24
- Koh Samui Sightseeing Tour by Minivan: $24
- Koh Samui Sightseeing Tour Around The Island: $26
- City Tour Around Koh Samui: $26
- Half Day Highlights Koh Samui Tour: $30
- Round-the-Island Sightseeing Tour: $31
Tours and Activities in Johor Bahru
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Johor Bahru are as follows:
- Adventure Cove WaterPark Sentosa Island Singpore: $34
- Adventure Cove Waterpark Tickets: $49
- Adventure Waterpark Ticket Desaru Coast: $19
- Buggy Tour Tourism Johor: $58
- DaVinci & The Wheel of Time - Cinematic Walkthrough VR Experience: $19
- Dino Rescue Squad - Cinematic Walkthrough VR Experience: $19
- Firefly Tour Johor Bahru@Kota Tinggi Firefly Park: $6.52
- Harry Potter Visions of Magic Singapore Entry Ticket with Voucher: $73
- HydroDash Singapore Ticket: $45
- Johor Bahru : Seadoo JetSki 30mins Self Ride Tour (Double): $86
- Johor Bahru : Seadoo JetSki 30mins Self Ride Tour(Single): $62
- Brooklyn Cruise at Puteri Harbour: $11
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoh Samui $5.10Johor Bahru $5.26
When comparing the travel costs between Koh Samui and Johor Bahru, we can see that Koh Samui is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Koh Samui Expensive? and Is Johor Bahru Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Koh Samui or Johor Bahru?
Johor Bahru has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Koh Samui. When comparing the sizes of Koh Samui and Johor Bahru, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.